I mean, the title was promising, and the woman on the cover seems to love the book she's reading, and Europa Editions seems to publish nice books (seems to, at least--I haven't had much luck with them yet), so I thought, well, maybe...

Nope. Didn't work. Maybe my expectations were a bit too high, maybe I'm reading too many other things at the moment (and I wasted my time on this when I could have been reading Doris Lessing or Gertrude Stein? Ack!), maybe I'm justThis book.

This book does NOTHING.

I mean, the title was promising, and the woman on the cover seems to love the book she's reading, and Europa Editions seems to publish nice books (seems to, at least--I haven't had much luck with them yet), so I thought, well, maybe...

Nope. Didn't work. Maybe my expectations were a bit too high, maybe I'm reading too many other things at the moment (and I wasted my time on this when I could have been reading Doris Lessing or Gertrude Stein? Ack!), maybe I'm just losing interest in short fiction...

It had better not be the last one. Save me, Louis Auchincloss! Save me from these uninspiring stories!...more

The reviews here are on opposite extremes: from the 1-2 stars (extremely annoying, does absolutely nothing, etc.) to the 4-5 stars (excellently written, highly recommended!, etc.) with a vast international audience who made reviews in English, Polish, French, German, Italian and perhaps a few other languages I don't recognize.

This is not a full-length novel but a collection of eight novellas (or maybe eight short stories but longer than the usual, or eight novels much shorter than the usual). SoThe reviews here are on opposite extremes: from the 1-2 stars (extremely annoying, does absolutely nothing, etc.) to the 4-5 stars (excellently written, highly recommended!, etc.) with a vast international audience who made reviews in English, Polish, French, German, Italian and perhaps a few other languages I don't recognize.

This is not a full-length novel but a collection of eight novellas (or maybe eight short stories but longer than the usual, or eight novels much shorter than the usual). So not tied up in a coherent whole, it may easily happen that the disgust one feels after the first of these novellas which I found very close to mediocrity ("Wanda Winnipeg") could dictate the reader's mood in his reading of the remaining.

Overall, I could pass judgement on it: simply narrated, straightforward, fast-paced, markedly plot-driven, bereft of any attempt towards sophistication or composition gimmickry. That could very well be a criticism. But it is not. Except for "Wanda Winnipeg" I enjoyed each and every story like I was a small boy tasting one exotic candy after another. I expected stories and was given delightful ones, each with distinct flavor and often with unexpected twists and turns.

The last two I found the best, both of them having to do with the book's cover: you see here "Odette Toulemonde" (the 7th novella) happily reading her favorite author's (Balthazar Balsan's) "Silence of the Plain" but of course that's not the title the book carries. The eight was deemed to be more eye-catching, "The Most Beautiful Book in the World."

This was originally written in French and it may be that some faults for the book's "imperfections" may have been brought about by poor translation. For a lot can be gained OR lost in translation. To illustrate, take a look at this poem:

"This great toil: to go through things undonePlodding as if tied by foot and hand, Recalls the uncouth walking of the swan;

Death, the loss of grip upon the shelfWhereon every day we used to stand,Mimes the anxious launching of himself

On the floods where he is gently caught,Which, as if now blessedly at naught,Float aside beneath him, ring by ring;While he, infinitely sure and calm,Ever more of age and free of qualm,Deigns to fare upon them like a king."

Then take a look at this one:

"This clumsy living that moves lumberingas if in ropes through what is not donereminds us of the awkward way the swan walks.

And to die, which is letting goof the ground we stand on and cling to every day,is like the swan when he nervously lets himself down

into the water, which receives him gailyand which flows joyfully underand after him, wave after wave,while the swan, unmoving and marvelously calm,is pleased to be carried, each minute more fully grown,more like a king, composed, farther and farther on."

You'd think, at a cursory glance, that they are two poems. But no. They are just two different English (from the original German) translations of Rainer Maria Rilke's "Der Schwan" ("The Swan"), the first one by Walter Arndt and the second one by Robert Bly.

Aside from the given possibility of the translation contributing negatively to this book, there is also a hint in one of the stories here which show that it may be indeed the case. I found it in "Odette Toulemonde" itself, the paragraph which reads:

"When the Filipino maid found him lying there lifeless, it was not too late. The emergency services managed to revive him and then, after a few days under observation, he was sent to a psychiatric hospital."

Now unless Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt really intended to write the next literary resurrection of the dead after Jesus Christ in French, I think this may be attributed to a faulty translation.

Yet it is good if the dead can really come back to life. So happy Easter everyone....more

There are writers and there are storytellers. Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt is now on my list of storytellers.

I loved this book so much that I didn't know how to put it into words. Easily one of my favorite books this year...

...So I read some reviews -positive and negative- just to get some outside perspective. Here's what I came up with when I was done:

First of all, this is a collection of stories about women, most of which are narrated by women. Unlike another book that I read recently that was narratThere are writers and there are storytellers. Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt is now on my list of storytellers.

I loved this book so much that I didn't know how to put it into words. Easily one of my favorite books this year...

...So I read some reviews -positive and negative- just to get some outside perspective. Here's what I came up with when I was done:

First of all, this is a collection of stories about women, most of which are narrated by women. Unlike another book that I read recently that was narrated by a women but written by a male, Schmitt's prose and understanding of the female mind and its compassion is exemplary. The writing was simple, which was perfect to counter the complexities that the stories reflected. They are stories about love, in all its forms, and how these different types of love are the driving forces of the beautiful creation that is woman. Excuse my sappy - but that's how you feel at the end of these stories. You can't help but love the women and appreciate them, despite their faults.

I was inspired by this book. Immediately, once I finished, I wanted to reread it - if only to be sure that I could commit all of the stories to memory. (I have the worst memory ever so I have the great fortune of being able to rediscover all my favorite books new every time! How's that for a positive outlook!) I wasn't taken aback by the simple writing (as some reviewers have mentioned) and it only served to inspire me to try to write some stories of my own. So that's what I shall do. I can only hope that I can write something that is a fraction as inspiring as these stories....more

The 8 stories, written in simple prose, are all stories about women - women dealing with heartbreak, love affairs, death, dementia.

In 'The Intruder', an elderly journalist, Odile, living alone in an apartment, keeps seeing an old lady. She calls out to her, "What are you doing in my house? How did you get in?" When she phones the police and they arrive, there is no one there. Was Odile's mind playing tricks on her? It's a very sad story.

'The Forgery' is about an aging mistress left abandoned byThe 8 stories, written in simple prose, are all stories about women - women dealing with heartbreak, love affairs, death, dementia.

In 'The Intruder', an elderly journalist, Odile, living alone in an apartment, keeps seeing an old lady. She calls out to her, "What are you doing in my house? How did you get in?" When she phones the police and they arrive, there is no one there. Was Odile's mind playing tricks on her? It's a very sad story.

'The Forgery' is about an aging mistress left abandoned by her lover in low-income housing with nothing but a Picasso painting that appears to be fake.

In 'The Most Beautiful Book in the World', a group of female political prisoners in Stalin's Gulag share paper and one pencil and set out to write to their daughters. When done, the plan is to stitch it together and get it "smuggled out at the first opportunity." Their undertaking, their words to their daughters, really has the makings of the most beautiful book in the world.

These well-formed stories are at times sad, at times optimistic, and at times quirky. Almost all are from the perspective of a woman, but written by a man. I liked the book and the cover a lot....more

I could hardly put this book down; what a great storyteller Schmitt is! All the stories featured women who were dealing with different things in their lives (loves, death, dementia, disappointments, etc.), and their stories truly fascinated me.

Wanda Winnipeg is a beautiful, rich, demanding woman who's made a successful career out of marrying rich men and then divorcing them. But what happens when she sees her first lover on the beach, now an old man and a failure of a painter?

Hélène likes everything just so, including her men, but has never been satisfied with what she's got - including her man. It is only after she loses something she didn't realise was so important to her, that she learns about the beauty of imperfection. But is itWanda Winnipeg is a beautiful, rich, demanding woman who's made a successful career out of marrying rich men and then divorcing them. But what happens when she sees her first lover on the beach, now an old man and a failure of a painter?

Hélène likes everything just so, including her men, but has never been satisfied with what she's got - including her man. It is only after she loses something she didn't realise was so important to her, that she learns about the beauty of imperfection. But is it too late for Hélène?

Odette is a single mother and widow, working in a shop by day and sewing feathers on costumes at night. Her one passion is the books of Balthazar Basan: they make her float. For Basan, his new book is being panned and his wife is more distant than ever; a letter from a fan called Odette might possibly be the only thing to bring him back to life.

A group of women prisoners in the Gulag - all mothers to daughters - work together to secretly create paper and acquire a pencil to write on it with, only to be stumped: what message should they leave their girls, whom they'll probably never see again? The result of their efforts is quite possibly the most beautiful book in the world.

These eight stories about wildly different women and the important things in their lives were touching, whimsical and sometimes bitter-sweet, but they all end on a note of hope. Except for Odette, the women tend to all be somewhat cold figures, and seem lost in their own womanhood, as if they woke up one day and couldn't figure out how they had become the women they became. Yet Schmitt has simply and touchingly captured some of the myriad of conflicting emotions and influences of love in the lives of women.

Naturally, Odette and her passion for stories spoke to me on a personal level, and it's one of the happiest stories, but I felt moved by all the stories. Some were very sad, like "Every Reason to be Happy" and "The Barefoot Princess" - but they all spoke of how easily love and life can slip through your fingers, either because you're not looking or because you've set up entirely the wrong expectations. They could be tragic stories precisely because they yearned for something lost and gone, something they couldn't have or didn't realise they had but wanted.

The prose was deceptively simple, the stories usually told from an omnipresent, future voice - a voice that already knows what happened. One of the standouts was "The Intruder", about an intelligent woman and journalist, Odile, who keeps seeing an old lady in her apartment and calls the police. When her husband Charlie, a journalist, comes back from the Middle East, she breaks down when he calmly tells her he doesn't live there, and hasn't in a long time. What you come to realise is that Odile is the old lady, the man isn't Charlie but their son who lives with his wife and children elsewhere, and that Odile - this woman who has a PhD and a revered career behind her - is losing her marbles.

On a first reading, I didn't get as much out of it as I wanted to, possibly because I don't read many short stories and it's not a medium I'm terribly comfortable with. I would need to re-read, knowing what to expect, and really absorb these stories. Because I think they're deceptively simple, and my response is too simplistic for my own satisfaction. It's also been a week since I read it, and it's lost its spark and sharpness and is starting to fade from memory.

The story "Odette Toulemonde" is based on the film of the same name, written and directed by Schmitt, which helped inspire this collection of stories....more

The lack of subtlety in these stories is just not to my taste. The penultimate story seems very self-serving, as if the author is both answering his own literary critics and perhaps also trying to feed the romantic fantasies of his female readership, which come to think of it might be what most of these stories try to do. There were several stories I didn't intend to finish, but I went back and did so, because this was the last unread book I had in my backpack while on sleepless flights -- the eThe lack of subtlety in these stories is just not to my taste. The penultimate story seems very self-serving, as if the author is both answering his own literary critics and perhaps also trying to feed the romantic fantasies of his female readership, which come to think of it might be what most of these stories try to do. There were several stories I didn't intend to finish, but I went back and did so, because this was the last unread book I had in my backpack while on sleepless flights -- the end of a trans-Pacific one and then a flight continuing on from L.A. to N.O. that was starting to feel almost as long as the first one. Needless to say, this book didn't tax my tired brain....more

8 stories about happiness and how one should not look too far away to find it, happiness is in front of your eyes and these imaginative stories portray it too well. I enjoyed the simple style, the forward way of characters, the somewhat unbelievable happenings, yet down-to earth. A mixture of feelings cannot tell how this book made me feel.

I found this book to be charming and I truly enjoyed reading these the stories. They were uncommon, surprising and had unexpected endings. The subjects varied and the themes were thought-provoking, wondering myself how I would feel if I were to walk in the characters' shoes? I can't say I find them to be realistic, but I surely had a pleasant time reading them.

I love the way this author describes the stories of normal people and cares about them and his point of view. Every one of his short stories opens a door for us to a beautiful peaceful world and that's why I love all his books.

Title: The Most Beautiful Book in the World: Eight NovellasAuthor: Éric-Emmanuel SchmittDate Read: September 4th - September 26th, 2016Date Reviewed: September 26th, 2016

Introduction: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I wanted to read this because I was lacking in anthologies as of lately - I had almost none on my shelf!

Spoilers Ahead?: No.

Quick Summary: This anthology is full of eight different novellas that are not related. They are cute, short stories tBook Review:

Title: The Most Beautiful Book in the World: Eight NovellasAuthor: Éric-Emmanuel SchmittDate Read: September 4th - September 26th, 2016Date Reviewed: September 26th, 2016

Introduction: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I wanted to read this because I was lacking in anthologies as of lately - I had almost none on my shelf!

Spoilers Ahead?: No.

Quick Summary: This anthology is full of eight different novellas that are not related. They are cute, short stories that are sure to entertain the reader. These are merely eight random stories, nothing that is to hard for the average reader to comprehend, and nothing sci-fi or crazy plot wise. It is a set of contemporary fiction novellas.

Evaluations: Some stories spoke more to me than others, but all eight of them were beautifully written. I enjoyed each novella as they came, and even though it took me a while to get through the novel, that was merely because I wanted to read one story at a time. If a reader goes in expecting a simple, entertaining read, than this book is for them!

Overall, I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't extraordinary. It was just a good read.

Plot: Each of the plots are finished within each story. I was thoroughly impressed by Mr. Schmitt's writing. Many authors create a fictional world within their novellas and then the reader is left craving more. Mr. Schmitt sums each story up perfectly and the endings left me feeling complete. I did not require more and I did not require less - so bravo to this fabulous author.

Themes/Creativity: When I read over other reviews of this novel, it was clear either readers swung one way or the other. You hate this set of novellas, or you love it. If you are expecting a grande, exquisite set of stories then this anthology is not for you. It is contemporary, French literature, and readers should be aware of this coming in. The stories are creative in their own right, with each being different from the rest. They are fast past, they have a simple narrative and they are not super sophisticated. I couldn't find any themes, but I would say this little anthology is creative.

Uniqueness: Each story is unique in their own way. Some of the stories, such as the first Wanda Winnipeg, may put the reader off if they are not fully invested in the anthology. Some of the stories are brighter and more unique than others, while some of them are simply plot driven and simple minded. Since this anthology was originally in French, I would have loved to read the French version without translation, because there may have been some words lost in translation.

Strengths: Mr. Schmitt's plot driven writing is by far one of the best strengths. He gets to the point and writes a wonderful story!

Weaknesses: I found that the sophistication within these stories was very bland. I would have loved some grander stories, but perhaps the book was not meant to be grande and sophisticated.

Score: 4 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed the novel, but I hoped for a little bit more. I would definitely read more wrote by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt in the future....more

In this collection of short stories, by the French author and filmmaker, character is held to the highest esteem. More importantly, though, these are stories about love. People in love. Marriages working and not working. Affairs are known and unknown, truths are revealed and in the process lives are altered. Wanda Winnipeg struggled out of poverty to become one of the wealthiest and most desirable women in the world, but she never forgot where she came from. The main character of "Every Reason tIn this collection of short stories, by the French author and filmmaker, character is held to the highest esteem. More importantly, though, these are stories about love. People in love. Marriages working and not working. Affairs are known and unknown, truths are revealed and in the process lives are altered. Wanda Winnipeg struggled out of poverty to become one of the wealthiest and most desirable women in the world, but she never forgot where she came from. The main character of "Every Reason to be Happy" cannot believe the truth she has discovered about her marriage, in part because her husband is such a true, faithful man. But the reason for his unfaithfulness, and the reason for his faithfulness, become clear to both the reader and the narrator as the story unfolds. In the end there are two families whose lives have changed as a result. The title of this collection in the original French comes from the penultimate story, "Odette Toulemonde." She has a ridiculous name, even in France, apparently, and despite her simple life and uneducated background, she manages, through the simple act of writing a piece of fan mail to her favorite author. Unbeknownst to her, the author, Balthasar Balsan, is having a life crisis of his own. The story shows how a single act of kindness and open-hearted honesty can change the course of people's lives.

While I admired the context of most of Schmitt's stories, the prose left something to be desired. He does not write poetry; the stories are told as though hammered from silk with a blunt instrument. Gorgeous characters emerge but it feels as though they are struggling to be understood past the blunt phrasing. I think Schmitt was trying to write in the style of classic parables here, and that comes out in "The Barefoot Princess." But overall the effect was jarring. In addition, not all of the stories are as strong as the title piece. The shocking ending to "The Intruder" is obvious from the early pages and feels uninspired. The epilogue to "The Forgery" is the lesson I should have learned from the story and rather than enjoy it for the tale I felt I was being lectured to.

Overall, though, the stories in this collection are worth reading. Schmitt ability to capture the essence of his characters, to reveal them quickly and then turn the very thing that makes them tick against them, to surprise us with the way these characters change, makes this book worth reading....more

I've read some of Schmitt's best books (which,of course,all of 'em have been plays and NOT novellas or short stories) and I can say this is 100% his most ordinary book.Just like Balthazar Balsan in the 'Odette Toulemonde' story, I think Schmitt must had been worried that this book of him might be too much of a mediocre book.The most annoying story to me was the last story,"The most beautiful book in the world".The most annoying page of the book to me was the last one and the most annoying line oI've read some of Schmitt's best books (which,of course,all of 'em have been plays and NOT novellas or short stories) and I can say this is 100% his most ordinary book.Just like Balthazar Balsan in the 'Odette Toulemonde' story, I think Schmitt must had been worried that this book of him might be too much of a mediocre book.The most annoying story to me was the last story,"The most beautiful book in the world".The most annoying page of the book to me was the last one and the most annoying line of the book to me was the last line!like why the hell those jailed women wrote cooking recipes for their daughters. It's so foolish that I spent minutes, thinking there must be something wrong, like me being such a fool for not understanding the ending part, so I read the last pages of the story again in an attempt to get what was his intent from such ending, but it only seemed more stupid to me.I'm really left frustrated with the ending,ugh.one important difference from the Persian edition I read with the original edition is that the Persian edition includes 5 stories,whereas the original one includes 8! The most probable hesitate in these kind of cases is always easy to guess; CENSORSHIP. Often it's due to erotic subjects and themes, with Iran's ministry of Culture and Arts (called 'Ershad' inside Iran) is under heavy pressure from extremists inside Government and even upper-governmental powers to execute as much restriction as possible on books which are lincensed by them.some unbelievably stupid censorships are being imposed to books and writers.that's why you never hear from an Iranian writer.this review DOES NOT mean that this book is anything near ordinary or weak, but when you're used to read only best books of your life from Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, then anything far from "best" makes you disappointed.maybe that's "The passion of Schmitt"....more

Just read this book, in French, in one sitting. Also read quite a few comments. It seems the title in the English version isn't the same and retains the title of the last novel "the most beautiful book in the world". I'm surprised as to that choice of title in the English version, it seems quite vain, while the book doesn't seem so to me (I had the impression Schmitt wanted to emphasise the down-to-earth quiet but steady sort of sentiments his characters seem to feel)I very much enjoyed the bookJust read this book, in French, in one sitting. Also read quite a few comments. It seems the title in the English version isn't the same and retains the title of the last novel "the most beautiful book in the world". I'm surprised as to that choice of title in the English version, it seems quite vain, while the book doesn't seem so to me (I had the impression Schmitt wanted to emphasise the down-to-earth quiet but steady sort of sentiments his characters seem to feel)I very much enjoyed the book, but found some stories to have a lot more depth than others. The most beautiful book in the world held much promise but I was sort of disappointed with the ending, although I do understand what food and cooking might mean to some, it felt like the solution to the writing should have been slightly more than recipes - or shouldn't have warranted that book title in the story. The fake also rather let me down compared to the rest, as I felt that the story hammered on the bitterness of the mistress (through a listing of faults) rather than dug properly into those feelings of betrayal. I particularly enjoyed the story of Helene who didn't seem to know what happiness was, even when it was straight in front of her. The intruder was also interesting, although the ending wasn't as surprising as one could have hoped.

All in all though, this is a light feel-good book, with some nuggets of wisdoms handed out. Enjoyable! ...more

Virtually unknown in America, Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt is a beloved French author. While the title, The Most Beautiful Book in the World, leans toward hyperbole, it is, in fact, the name of the last and one of the most beautiful short stories in this collection of eight.

Save Wanda Winnipeg and The Barefoot Princess, which read like fairy tales penned by Jackie Collins, the stories reveal the drama inherent in quiet lives. Using a few details devastating in their precision, Schmitt sketches charactVirtually unknown in America, Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt is a beloved French author. While the title, The Most Beautiful Book in the World, leans toward hyperbole, it is, in fact, the name of the last and one of the most beautiful short stories in this collection of eight.

Save Wanda Winnipeg and The Barefoot Princess, which read like fairy tales penned by Jackie Collins, the stories reveal the drama inherent in quiet lives. Using a few details devastating in their precision, Schmitt sketches characters who are grappling with dementia, critical failure, and the departure of a decades-long lover.

While the subject matter can register as distinctly French (there are a lot of lovers), the themes are universal. Yet they feel fresh taking shape as they do in a different culture. My only caveat is the dialogue, which comes across as stilted. Maybe it’s the formality or maybe it’s the translation or maybe it’s the lack of action beats, but everyone sounds like mannered actors from the '40s.

Charming prose and O’Henry twists make for stories that brush up against, but do not cross into, sentimentality. This may be my first book by Schmitt; it will not, however, be my last....more

I just really don't think this collection of short stories was for me. The inside cover says it's about finding happiness after searching for it and realizing that it was there all along right in front of us. OK, great that sounds like it's going to be uplifting, maybe even inspirational. However... most of the women in these stories were horrible. They were mean, manipulative, rude, and just down right horrible people. There were only 2 stories in this that I read and didn't make me want to thrI just really don't think this collection of short stories was for me. The inside cover says it's about finding happiness after searching for it and realizing that it was there all along right in front of us. OK, great that sounds like it's going to be uplifting, maybe even inspirational. However... most of the women in these stories were horrible. They were mean, manipulative, rude, and just down right horrible people. There were only 2 stories in this that I read and didn't make me want to throw this book across the room. Although the writing was great, and the base of the stories were interesting... the characters are what killed this for me. ...more

I don't see how this book could have been an international bestseller and the librarians thought it a good idea to display it at their main table so that peer pressured pees like me would glance at it, walk past it, and then pick it up again! Annoying run on sentences aside, I didn't like this book. period. The stories were nothing new and the themes were unrelated; it was anything but organized. I know some authors don't intend to link one story to another but this is a wish wash work of a scatI don't see how this book could have been an international bestseller and the librarians thought it a good idea to display it at their main table so that peer pressured pees like me would glance at it, walk past it, and then pick it up again! Annoying run on sentences aside, I didn't like this book. period. The stories were nothing new and the themes were unrelated; it was anything but organized. I know some authors don't intend to link one story to another but this is a wish wash work of a scattered brain because there were some stories that were connected and then he'd jump to a new theme. I am probably not being articulate here but I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. ...more

I loved this book of short stories. I don't particularly like short stories. These are exceptional; especially the title story. I squealed with delight at the ending. These stories remind me in a way of Flannery O'Connor's short stories but these are more gentle but as powerful.

More than in other works of his, Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, plays around the border of Clichés. One can speculate that in his seventh novella, Odette Toulemonde, he actually describes his own writing dilemma: are his books TOO romantic, too easy and commercial? Does the fact that he appeals more to housewives than to some literary critics mean that his literature is bad? I guess everyone has to decide that for herself. For me, many of his stories work. With some I can relate, a few made me smile, onMore than in other works of his, Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, plays around the border of Clichés. One can speculate that in his seventh novella, Odette Toulemonde, he actually describes his own writing dilemma: are his books TOO romantic, too easy and commercial? Does the fact that he appeals more to housewives than to some literary critics mean that his literature is bad? I guess everyone has to decide that for herself. For me, many of his stories work. With some I can relate, a few made me smile, one touched me deeply (A Fine Rainy Day). Others felt a bit corny, I didn't buy them. But I come back again and again to Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt exactly because I know that, sooner or later in his books, his charms will get me, even if only for a few passages. Sometimes I go through years of reading other authors without ever experiencing this kind of enchantment. ...more

Not going to lie, but it was the title and the cover that drew me towards this book. Such an overtly arrogant title paired with a magical cover image of a woman reading in levitation, and I’m sold. I couldn’t wait to see for myself what the most beautiful book would look like.

It is, I’d say, a collection of heartwarming novellas. While there isn’t too much life and death drama, it portrays many female characters that may seem simple and ordinary at first but have surprising sides andThat. Title.

Not going to lie, but it was the title and the cover that drew me towards this book. Such an overtly arrogant title paired with a magical cover image of a woman reading in levitation, and I’m sold. I couldn’t wait to see for myself what the most beautiful book would look like.

It is, I’d say, a collection of heartwarming novellas. While there isn’t too much life and death drama, it portrays many female characters that may seem simple and ordinary at first but have surprising sides and dimensions. They go through different obstacles and hardships, but in contrast, their responses show the bright side of humanity. There is almost always a plot twist at the end, but it only adds to the sweetness of the story.

The novellas have a whimsical air to them that reminds me of the movie Amelie, with their European, sometimes elvish heroines and

I fell in love with the stories, not because they offered many deep or sophisticated ideas, but because I felt like I was given a box of chocolates in assorted flavors; none of them connect to one other, but they each lend a little warmth to the reader, and together they form a delicious feast for this bookworm....more

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A popular contemporary French author and dramatist, his plays are translated and staged in more than 30 countries all over the world.

He studied at the Lycée du Parc in Lyon and was accepted at the famous École normale supérieure in Paris (1980–1985), where he received a doctorate in philosophy. As the theme for his dissertation, he chose "Diderot and metaphysics". He spent three years teaching inA popular contemporary French author and dramatist, his plays are translated and staged in more than 30 countries all over the world.

He studied at the Lycée du Parc in Lyon and was accepted at the famous École normale supérieure in Paris (1980–1985), where he received a doctorate in philosophy. As the theme for his dissertation, he chose "Diderot and metaphysics". He spent three years teaching in Cherbourg and at the university of Chambéry.

He is of Alsation extraction. Both of his parents were physical education teachers. Growing up under the influence of his parents' atheist outlook, Schmitt eventually professed himself a Christian, after years of being an agnostic.

Initially he became known as a scriptwriter for the stage. His debut work, "La nuit de Valognes", was produced a number of times in 1991/1992, both in France and abroad. His breakthrough theatre work came with his second script, "Le Visiteur", which won Molière prizes for best author and best show in 1993.

Schmitt covers a variety of themes in his work. "Golden Joe" takes a look of the cynical attitudes to life of those involved in high finance. In "Variations énigmatiques", the author gives voice to two very different men, who discuss their own philosophies of life and love - as it turns out, both were in love with the same woman. "Le Libertin" is a historical drama about the life of philosopher Denis Diderot and a film version was released in 2000.

In 2001, Schmitt was awarded the "Grand Prix du théâtre de l'Académie Française". His plays have been performed in 35 countries and translated into many languages. They show influences from Samuel Beckett, Jean Anouilh and Paul Claudel, among others.

World religions play an important role in Schmitt's writing. In "Le Cycle de l'Invisible", Schmitt attempts a harmonization of religions and cultures. "Milarepa" is the first issue in this series and depicts Tibetan Buddhism. The second volume, "Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran" is dedicated to Sufism, a subset of Islam, also referencing Judaism. "Oscar et la dame rose" (the third volume) concerns Christianity. "L'enfant de Noé" (a comparison of Judaism and Christianity) rounds off the series.

"Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran" (English: M. Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran) received the German prize for fiction in 2004 and a film version was produced in 2003, directed by François Dupeyron with Omar Sharif in the title role.

“Women are pleasing because they come to us wrapped in the catkin of an enigma and they cease to please when they lose their intrigue.Do women believe that men are only interested in what's between their legs? That would be an error.:men are more attracted by a woman's romantic side than by her sexuality.”
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